Minnesota Public Radio, which started reporting from the Minnesota State Fair as far back as 1972, began a yearly tradition of live broadcasting from its booth at the corner of Judson and Nelson in 1991 (taking over the old WLOL-FM spot). The location has since become an important community spot for sharing ideas, intercultural representation, and topics unique to the Fair itself. MPR was the first media organization to have an entire day dedicated to them in the form of MPR Day, held the Friday before Labor Day in Dan Patch Park (formerly known as Carousel Park). The MPR booth has featured Gubernatorial debates, appearances by senators and important public figures, and live performances by a wide range of local musicians and writers. MPR hosts Gary Eichten, Cathy Wurzer, Kerri Miller, Bob Potter, Beth Friend, and numerous others, have filled the air over the past three decades with live Fair broadcasts that both informed and entertained. There was also the longtime broadcast of the Morning Show hosted by Jim Ed Poole and Dale Connelly, bringing their distinctive humor to the street intersection.
The Minnesota State Fair’s permanent 320-acre home along Snelling Avenue in St. Paul contains historical buildings which host a slew of exhibitors, plants, animals, arts, and plenty of jam. Big outdoor attractions include a multitude of food, Midway carnival rides, livestock (with smells), and daily shows and grandstand performances. It’s a busy, busy 12 days that MPR Archive has attempted to capture in this audio collection as varied as food on a stick. A report on Little Irvy, the freeze-dried whale…check! Andean folk band…indeed! Differences of the Pronto pup and the Poncho Dog…got it! Former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz pitching his milk…yep! Here is your audio ticket to those stories…and so much more.
August 23, 2001 - One of the new exhibits at the State Fair is the Miracle of Birth Center. Eight cows, 12 sows, and 16 ewes are set to give birth, while fairgoers watch. It's a kind of animal maternity ward. Dr. Mary Olson, a vet, says timing the births to coincide with the fair is a little tricky.
August 23, 2001 - On the first day of the 2001 Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Lorna Benson joins City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moskowitz to check out food items making their Fair debut…from deep fried candy bars, to wilderness fish cakes and fried alligator legs.
August 23, 2001 - MPR’s Andrew Haeg explores new things at the Minnesota State Fair. New additions include Robot Combat, a new sky ride, and Miracle Birth Center. On the fair food front, mainstays such as mini-doughnuts now must contend with introduction of the deep-fried candy bar.
August 29, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum talks with politicians at the State Fair. McCallum interviews Norm Coleman, Bruce Anderson, Paul Wellstone and Mark Dayton.
August 30, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that officials with the Minnesota State Fair have implemented some additional safety measures in the livestock and poultry barns to ensure the health of the animals and fairgoers. Each year, thousands of people walk through the animal barns. Fair officials want to make sure that no illnesses are spread through that interaction.
August 30, 2001 - (to follow scheck) Former state epidemiologist Mike Osterholm says Minnesota State Fair organizers are wise to take such strong precautions against the spread of infectious diseases, in particular Foot and Mouth:
August 31, 2001 - In a broadcast from the MPR booth at Minnesota State Fair, Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe revisits the farmers of Chanarambie Township in Southwestern Minnesota.
August 31, 2001 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports on Governor Jesse Ventura joining the throngs at the Minnesota State Fair to talk taxes and politics. Ventura promoted the idea of a national sales tax and banning elected officials from campaigning when he says they should be working.
September 3, 2001 - Howard Sinker, MPR Sports Analyst, joins Gary Eichten for his annual State Fair show about sports.
September 3, 2001 - Gary Eichten broadcasts live from the Minnesota State Fair. Two of Minnesota's top crime-fighters: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner.